Legal and Ethical Guide to Student Suicide Outcries by Mrs. Burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy en-us 2019-11-28 04:06:32 UTC 2019-12-07 19:09:55 UTC hello@padlet.com #1 -Professional Perspective/ Audience/Topic mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346160 I am an elementary counselor in Austin, TX.  This padlet is intended for other new elementary, middle, or high school counselors. This topic was chosen to outline legal and ethics guidelines for counselors who are working with students who are making a suicide outcry.]]> 2019-11-28 04:08:52 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346160 #2- Interview mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346170 Phyllis Chessher
School Counselor
Cox Elementary

Mrs. Chessher's Google Site: https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/cox-school-counseling/contact-information?authuser=0

How is this Impacting the field of School Counseling
The topic of working with students who talk about suicide is of utmost importance to a school counselor.  Counselors are met with these challenges often and should be well versed in the knowledge of how to handle a student who is discussing suicide. Many counselors complete several Suicide Risk Assessments (SRA) each month and more and more students are living with suicide ideation. Suicide intervention programs and strategies are also a part of staff development for school counselors (Phyllis Chessher, Personal communication, November 22, 2019).

Best Practices related to Student Suicide Assessment
1. Take any discussion or threat of suicide seriously.
2. Always contact the parent and keep a record of the SRA. Make sure the student knows and understands confidentiality and the need to contact parents if harm to self or others is possible.
3. Always follow up with a plan of action.
4. Touch base with the student shortly after the SRA is completed.
(Phyllis Chessher, Personal communication, November 22, 2019).

Emerging Issues related to Student Suicide
The increase of academic expectations and the constant filter of information through social media is a concern related to the increase in student suicidal thoughts and outcries.  When students, especially teens, are on social media and see what others are doing, maybe even things they weren't invited to, they begin to compare themselves. Social media and online interactions also allow more opportunities for students to be bullied which leads to a decline in self- esteem and withdrawal from normal activities. Having conversations about these emerging issues is an important part of intervention strategies (Phyllis Chessher, Personal communication, November 22, 2019).


]]> 2019-11-28 04:08:57 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346170 #3- Professional Association Resources mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346180 Take Action, Save Lives

Belyeu (2014), the Educational Director of The Trevor Project, has written a detailed article about adopting the Model School District Policy to prevent tragedies and create a supportive framework for schools. The Trevor Project, ASCA , and other organizations worked collaborated to provide policy tools that will be useful to educators (Belyeu, 2014).

Belyue, N. (2014). Take action, save lives. [PDF file]. Retrieved from

                 https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/

                 ASCAU/Mental- Health-Specialist/TakeActionSaveLives.pdf]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:02 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346180 #4 - Current Article- What it Takes to Make Suicide Prevention a Priority in Schools mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346183
Neiskens and Robbins (2018) outline a Mulit-tiered System of Support used in Montana schools.
* The schools implemented prevention and intervention programs.
* Provided additional mental health resources by establishing relationships with providers.
* Created a school environment that supports the mental health of students.

 Nieskens, H. & Robbins, M. (2018). What it takes to make suicide prevention a 

            priority in school. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/ew/a

           rticles/2018/11/28/what-it-takes-to-make-suicide-prevention.html]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:05 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346183 #5 -Current Article -Talking about Suicide in Schools mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346196 Gallagher (n.d.) discusses the importance of having conversations about suicide with students.
She discusses
1. appropriate ways to discuss suicide
2. Implementing prevention
3. What else can educators do?

Gallagher, T. (n.d.) Talking about suicide in schools. Retrieved from 

                https://afsp.org/talking-suicide-schools/]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:09 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346196 #6- Original Source of Law mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346207 Judicial Law- Rogers v. Christina Sch. Dist., C.A. No. N10C-07-060 JRJ (2013)

Rogers v. Christina School District (2013)
- The student spoke with his school counselor about thoughts of suicide for four hours
- The counselor did not believe the student was at risk and sent him back to class and emailed his teachers and update.
- The counselor did not inform the guardians and sent the student home without supervision where he took his life.
-The school could be held liable because the counselor did not notify guardians.

The original source of law can be found here: https://courts.delaware.gov/opinions/download.aspx?ID=166760


]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:14 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346207 #7- Original Source of Law mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346214 Judicial Law- Eisel v. Montgomery County Board of Education, 597 A.2d 447 (1991)
- Counselor and administrator were informed of a student's suicide plan.
- The school staff did not inform the father.
- The student was a part of a murder-suicide pact.
- The court found the counselor was not liable, but the court claimed “the consequence of the risk is so great that even a relatively remote possibility of a suicide may be enough to establish duty” (Eisel vs. Board of Education of Montgomery County, 1991)

The original source of law can be found here: https://casetext.com/case/eisel-v-board-of-education


]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:18 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346214 #8- Original Source of Law mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346222 Federal Statute- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act

FERPA original source of law:
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/leg-history.html

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (1974).

Education records are covered under FERPA but when dealing with student safety regarding suicide outcries those records may be disclosed to appropriate parties if the knowledge is necessary to protect the safety of the student. 



]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:21 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346222 #9- Original Source of Law mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346234 Armijo vs. Wagon Mound Public Schools (1998)
- School counselor drove a special education student home after he was suspended.
- The student made a comment that he wished he was dead to a teacher on campus, but this was not assessed and parents were not notified.
- The student was home alone with firearms and took his life.
-This decision was not released but it is believed the district was found liable.

Original source of law: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-10th-circuit/1274775.html

Armijo v. Wagon Mound Public Schools, 159 F.3d 1253 (10th Cir. 1998)]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:23 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346234 #10- Local Administrative Law/ Policy mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346242
Leander ISD Elementary School Student and Parent Handbook outlines the confidentiality standards and district expectations for parent contact and school protocols for suicide outcries and Suicide Risk Assessments.

The original source of law can be found here: https://www.leanderisd.org/UserFiles/Servers/Server_79234/File/departments/Student%20Support%20Services/Handbooks/ElemHandbook_1920.pdf


Leander ISD. (2019). Elementary School Student and Parent Handbook, 

                Suicide Prevention and Early Mental Health Intervention §P.54 

                Retrieved from https://www.leanderisd.org/UserFiles/

                Servers/Server_79234/File/departments/Student%

20Support%20Services/ Handbooks/Elem-Handbook_1920.pdf

]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346242 #11- ASCA Ethical Standard mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346254 ASCA (2016) Ethical Standard A.2. Confidentiality, " d. Explain the limits of confidentiality in developmentally appropriate terms through multiple methods such as student handbooks, school counselor department websites, school counseling brochures, classroom lessons and/or verbal notification to
individual students" is directly related to the topic of suicide outcries. School counselors must make sure students understand the limits of confidentiality as it relates to harming oneself, harming others or being harmed. Students must understand that your office is a safe place, but that you must report suicide outcries and behaviors.

American Association of School Counselors. (2016). ASCA ethical standards 

         for school counselors. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.
      
         org/asca/media/asca/Ethics/EthicalStandards2016.pdf



]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:29 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346254 #12- Helpful Resources- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Website mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346263 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (2019) https://afsp.org/take-action/bring-prevention-school/ is a website that covers finding support, how to take action, how to donate, and also offers a blog about suicide and prevention. This site is a great resource as it discusses opportunities to be involved in prevention and also how to implement interventions in schools. ]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:32 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346263 #13- Best Practices for Counselors mandi_burkett https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346270 * Explain limits of confidentiality in developmentally appropriate terms. 
* Always call a parent/guardian when an outcry is made.
* Remove any means for self-harm. 
* Provide supervision. Do not leave the child alone.
* Focus on the concern. Do not place blame on the child.
* Continue to check in with the child after the outcry.
* Refer students for outside counseling services when needed.
* Call or reach out to a colleague or local authority to consult regarding the next steps for the student.  ]]> 2019-11-28 04:09:35 UTC https://padlet.com/mandi_burkett/944etl0k40hy/wish/417346270